Lincolnville — Five agencies worked to gain control of a structure fire at 18 Salt Pond Lane in Lincolnville on Sunday July 22. According to Lincolnville Fire Chief Jason Peasley the large residence is likely a total loss.

Peasley said Lincolnville Fire Department responded after an employee at Chez Michel restaurant reported the blaze — after spotting it through the woods — around 2:45 p.m. Peasley said he was among the first to arrive. He said "a heavy sea breeze" was blowing and several windows in the home had already blown out due to the blaze before firefighters arrived.

"The fire had a major head start on us before we even got there," he said.

Peasley said the quarter-mile long driveway was among the challenges in combating the fire. Responding agencies had to lay hose all the way up the driveway to deliver water to the blaze. Peasley said Belmont, Northport, Searsmont and Camden assisted Lincolnville in fighting the fire. Approximately 60,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire, he said.

Taming the flames took "at least two hours," according to Peasley.

On Monday, July 23, fire marshals traveled to the scene of the incident to investigate the cause of the fire. Peasley said the investigation attributed the cause of the fire to "improper disposal of a smoking material." Peasley said fire marshals determined a discarded cigarette butt ignited bark mulch in the garden area of the home. The flames spread to the exterior deck before traveling to the interior of the home.

The home belongs to Adam Durkee, who was not home when the fire began, Peasley said. No one was injured as a result of the fire.

Courier Publications reporter Jenna Lookner can be reached at 236-8511 or by email at jlookner@courierpublicationsllc.com